Nigeria Moves to Decriminalise Attempted Suicide

The Nigerian government has approved a proposed amendment to the National Mental Health Act aimed at decriminalising attempted suicide, a significant change from existing laws that treat suicide attempts as criminal offenses. Currently, Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 231 of the Penal Code expose survivors of suicide attempts to potential imprisonment.

Mental health advocates, including the Nigerian Mental Health and the Nigeria Suicide Prevention Advocacy Working Group, welcomed this decision but emphasized that merely removing criminal penalties will not resolve the suicide crisis. They urged lawmakers to pass the National Suicide Prevention Bill 2024 and fully implement the National Mental Health Act.

The groups commended Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Executive Council for their support. They highlighted that criminalization exacerbates the distress of survivors and discourages help-seeking.

The WHO estimates that approximately 15,000 Nigerians die by suicide annually, with about 300,000 attempts. The proposed reforms aim to establish a framework for suicide prevention, including improved data collection and crisis intervention services.